Jess Kidd’s novel "Little Spark," published by Canongate at £18.99, offers a richly imaginative narrative set in 1868 and 1881. The story follows Bodkin Bell, a gifted young woman possessing unusual abilities, including pickpocketing, storm summoning, and controlling a strange static charge within her body. These talents are central to the electrifying traveling act she performs alongside Cornelius Bell, a charismatic but unpredictable figure who serves as her mentor and partner.

At the outset, Bodkin faces significant challenges: she is imprisoned, Cornelius has gone into hiding, and her own health is unstable due to an irregular heartbeat. Her fortunes begin to shift when Lady Hesperia, owner of Point Mote manor on the Kent marshes, offers aid. The manor itself is notable for its collection of intricate automata, blending the novel’s historical backdrop with a steampunk aesthetic.

As Bodkin navigates her new surroundings, she uncovers hidden dangers and unsettling secrets within the manor’s walls. The narrative intertwines themes of mystery and suspense with elements of fantasy, weaving together bodily powers and mechanical wonders against a vividly depicted 19th-century setting.

"Little Spark" explores the interplay between human frailty and extraordinary capacity, illuminated by Kidd’s distinctive storytelling and atmospheric world-building. The novel’s blend of historical detail and speculative elements invites readers into a compelling tale where magic and machinery converge, raising questions about identity, loyalty, and survival.